CoopMD Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 What is this algae? How do I control it? I have a TON of CUC (emerald crag, lots of hermits, 4 types of snails), but none seem to like this one!! It's like a carpet -- scraped away and it rolled off like a carpet ... Link to comment
tako Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Looks and sounds like cyanobacteria to me. Link to comment
silent183 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 From my newbie point of view I would say its cyano. Link to comment
Neet Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm a 100% sure it's cyanobacteria/cyano/red slime because of those air bubbles. Usually you get red slime because of high phosphate. If that thing is only on your rock I suggest you just remove the rock and scrub it out. What kind of water you use? Link to comment
CoopMD Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 I'm a 100% sure it's cyanobacteria/cyano/red slime because of those air bubbles. Usually you get red slime because of high phosphate. If that thing is only on your rock I suggest you just remove the rock and scrub it out. What kind of water you use? RO/DI water tested to 0 TDS. This one rock is the only one that has the issue. It doesn't even spread to any others. What's the remedy short of taking the rock out. It is sort of glued in there?? Link to comment
paneubert Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Read this guy.... http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?...53&hl=cyano Entertaining AND informative Link to comment
Neet Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 RO/DI water tested to 0 TDS.This one rock is the only one that has the issue. It doesn't even spread to any others. What's the remedy short of taking the rock out. It is sort of glued in there?? Turkey baster + net http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/ultimatechefstore_2145_871920465 Link to comment
brandon429 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 rather than changing up tank params just treat it as a hitchhiker any tank can get, this family of monerans can be airborne. removal and blast cleaning elsewhere as mentioned is #1. no spread particles around your tank... second is taking a 1/2 or larger siphon tube, and cutting vacuum cleaner notches all around one end. use that as a dagger while siphoning to remove the growth, the slits allow mass water flow huge compared to a rounded edge that is sealing every time you push it against a rock. you can thank rainbow vacs circa 1979 for that innovation mind you lol Link to comment
justinT Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I have something like this in my tank as well, and I really highly doubt its cyano- mostly because I had a cyano bloom last year so learned what that looks like, and usually have a small amount on the sandbed in front due to vodka dosing (which I recently stopped and replaced with a biopellet reactor). The stuff I have on the rocks is REALLY dark red, and grows more like coralline algae. I'll try to get some pics and post them to support my claims. This stuff grows in proximity to corals, in some very high flow area too, and no one seems to mind or care. Link to comment
StarfishSlayer Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 dont need all the fancy words here, its red slime. one question, how old are you light bulbs. old lights will cause red slime to grow. Link to comment
CoopMD Posted February 18, 2011 Author Share Posted February 18, 2011 dont need all the fancy words here, its red slime. one question, how old are you light bulbs. old lights will cause red slime to grow. New tank. 5 weeks old. Link to comment
StarfishSlayer Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 hmm..how often do you do water changes? running out of possibilites here lol Link to comment
FishStrings Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Its probably from detritus buildup or something died around that area. Possibly feeding on the stuff coming out of the rock since its pretty embedded. You can try just basting your rocks and a good cleanup crew can totally prevent this. Link to comment
Sunstar Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 I have something like this in my tank as well, and I really highly doubt its cyano- mostly because I had a cyano bloom last year so learned what that looks like, and usually have a small amount on the sandbed in front due to vodka dosing (which I recently stopped and replaced with a biopellet reactor). The stuff I have on the rocks is REALLY dark red, and grows more like coralline algae. I'll try to get some pics and post them to support my claims. This stuff grows in proximity to corals, in some very high flow area too, and no one seems to mind or care. I got lots of the red stuff in my 10 gallon AND cyano inb there. Yours sounds like lobophora or a sort of red coraline.... red stuff likes my tank... encrusting red stuff like coraline, lobophora, about 3 types of red macro, some is very pretty. To the O.P. In case of cyano, which I need to do if my sleeping patterns permit me to actually be alert enough, is to turkey baster or sypon the slag off your rocks. it is like a skin, so suck it up and toss it out. Link to comment
DaneMarx Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Cyano for sure. First fix is to add some flow to the area. Second is to find out whats causing it. Phosphates? excess nutrients? Detritus? Flow should really make a big difference... Link to comment
CoopMD Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 Why just 1 rock? Link to comment
skimlessinseattle Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Why just 1 rock? It often pops up in areas where conditions are optimal for it's growth. Cyano is common in new tanks, and can appear in mature tanks from time to time. Not really a huge concern IMO, just unattractive. Manually remove and increase flow to the area as suggested. Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.